Xylitol, Why Hasn’t this Dangerous Chemical Been Compromised Yet?
Calls about Xylitol to veterinary clinics have risen by 108% in five years. More dogs are being lost by consuming Xylitol because hardly anyone is aware of its dangers. Xylitol product vendors refuse to put warning labels on their products and state that it will not change anything. If companies put warning signs it would warn unaware consumers. The Paws Off Act of 2021 will forbid the sale of foods that contain Xylitol, unless the packaging consists of a warning label about the dangers of Xylitol to dogs. Why hasn’t this dangerous chemical been compromised yet?
What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that can be used as a replacement for sugar. It is highly toxic to dogs if consumed, due to the fact that they metabolize things more quickly than humans. It can poison the canine’s liver, cause internal bleeding, reduce red blood cell levels, etc. Xylitol is a chemical compound that can be found in gum, fruits, peanut butter, baked goods, and even oral health care.
When Asking a Veterinarian…
Consumers need to be made aware of the presence of this deadly chemical. According to Dr. Rappaport,
“With better labeling will be greater awareness.”
If more people are informed, then more people will become aware, but why is there no labeling? Since 2021, people started speaking out and are beginning to defend and protect pets. Dr. Rappaport, like so many others, is sickened by Xylitol and its affects and stated,
“These animals can’t protect themselves.”
The Xylitol-using candy companies recognize that if labels are used, they will lose sales. In other words, if Xylitol gum producers say that their products aren’t safe for dogs, then their consumers that own dogs will no longer buy their products and therefore, lose money. Dr. Rappaport is becoming aware of how these companies contemplate,
“These companies are becoming successful into tricking us.”
Why Aren’t Companies Labeling Their Xylitol Products?
MARS incorporated and Hershey are 2 big companies that use Xylitol and do not warn their buyers. However, Hershey states that they have “long encouraged” spreading awareness about Xylitol but refuse to put warning labels on their Xylitol products. Out of the US population, 76.4% are Hershey consumers while 56.04% own dogs. This suggests that if Hershey spreads awareness about how some of their products contain toxicity to dogs, then they will lose a good number of American consumers and therefore will lose money. Similarly, MARS incorporated claimed that they are “very committed” to spreading awareness about how some of their products contain Xylitol toxicity to dogs but claimed that, “We are not currently engaged in this legislation but remain very committed to educating pet owners about common foods and products that are exclusively intended as snacks and treats for humans.” This begs the question, if they are aware of these dangers and are “very committed to educating pet owners”, then why are they not helping to spread awareness? It is important to note that MARS incorporated, one of the biggest Xylitol users, happens to own over 2,000 veterinary clinics. This information tells us that they could be making money off of hurting our canine friends. To answer the big question, “Why hasn’t this dangerous chemical been compromised yet,” the conclusion can be drawn that they refuse to label their product in fear of losing money.
Last Thoughts
More names on the petitions to support the Paws Off Bill will equal a higher chance that the bill will be passed. To get more names, awareness needs to be spread. There are ways to distribute information from hanging up posters, to even asking grocery stores to put up warnings next to products with Xylitol. All dog owners should consider the significance of this subject and take the step of signing the petition. Do your part to help protect our pets so we can stop Xylitol together.
